College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences

Dr Graham Burgess is a Reader in Microbiology and Immunology at James Cook University. He coordinates or actively participates in the teaching of infectious diseases and related subjects in a number of courses and was the coordinator of the third-year veterinary science program at JCU. Major research interest is the study of the pathogenesis of viral diseases of animals and man. From 1991 to 1998 managing director of a biotechnology company owned by James Cook which manufactures products aimed at servicing the requirements of veterinary and medical pathology laboratories.

Research projects in the past ten years have concentrated on the development of diagnostic assays using contemporary technologies and application of those techniques to study the epidemiology or pathogenesis of viral diseases.

Recent research projects have concentrated on molecular diagnostics and molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases and the coordination of bioinformatics in several projects. They include the epidemiology of avian influenza in wild birds in North Queensland, molecular epidemiology of Chelonid Herpesvirus 5 in turtles and the molecular characterisation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Papua New Guinea.

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Wildlife Health Australia - Research Grant

Monitoring of avian influenza in samples collected from aquatic birds in North Queensland

Indicative Funding

$10,100

Summary

At least 500 fresh faecal samples from wild ducks and magpie geese will be collected as environmental samples in the Townsville region. Swabs in transport media and immediately transported to the laboratory. Samples will be pooled and nucleic acid extracted. The extracted nucleic acid will be screened using assays based on TaqMan that will detect avian influenza. Pools that react will be individually extracted and tested. Avian influenza isolates will be checked using TaqMan specific for H5 and H7. Should the samples react in these assays it will be sent to AAHL for further testing and the CVO will be notified. Sequencing on all isolates other than those reacting in H5 and H7 will be carried out to determine genotype and to confirm pathotype.

Investigators

Graham Burgess in collaboration with Ellen Ariel and W Worth
(College of Public Health and Medical & Vet Sciences)

Keywords

RT-PCR; Molecular Biology; Viral Diseases; Influenza; avian; Wildlife

Wildlife Health Australia - Research Grant

Monitoring of avian influenza and paramyxoviruses in samples collected from aquatic birds in North Queensland

Indicative Funding

$15,000

Summary

At least 500 fresh faecal samples from wild ducks and magpie geese will be collected as environmental samples in the Townsville region. Swabs in transport media and immediately transported to the laboratory. Samples will be pooled and nucleic acid extracted. The extracted nucleic acid will be screened using assays based on TaqMan that will detect avian influenza and avian Paramyxovirus?1. Pools that react will be individually extracted and tested. Avian influenza isolates will be checked using TaqMan specific for H5 and H7. Should the samples react in these assays it will be sent to AAHL for further testing and the CVO will be notified. Sequencing on all isolates other than those reacting in H5 and H7 will be carried out to determine genotype and to confirm pathotype.

Wildlife Health Australia - Research Grant

Monitoring of influenza virus in samples collected from aquatic bird species in
North Queensland.

Indicative Funding

$10,000

Summary

Monitoring of wild bird populations for the presence of avian influenza has been carried out in four locations in Queensland including Cape York and Atherton tableland, Townsville region and south-east corner.

Investigators

Graham Burgess
(College of Public Health and Medical & Vet Sciences)

Keywords

RT-PCR; Viral disease

Supervision

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These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or
by students who have completed their studies within the past
5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within
ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Environmental Influences in the Epidemiology of Fibropapillomatosis in Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) and Consequences for Management of Inshore Areas of the Great Barrier Reef.
(PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)

Development and Validation of Molecular Tools to Identify Tuberculosis
(Masters , Secondary Advisor)

Pathology of Ranavirus in Eastern Water Dragons (Intellagama Lesueurii Lesueurii) and Survey of Ranavirus in Australian lizards;;
(PhD , Advisor Mentor)

Dr Graham Burgess is a Reader in Microbiology and Immunology at James Cook University. He coordinates or actively participates in the teaching of infectious diseases and related subjects in a number of courses and was the coordinator of the third-year veterinary science program at JCU. Major research interest is the study of the pathogenesis of viral diseases of animals and man. From 1991 to 1998 managing director of a biotechnology company owned by James Cook which manufactures products aimed at servicing the requirements of veterinary and medical pathology laboratories.